SAD NEWS: Davide Astori dies in his sleep at team hotel

Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died in his sleep ahead of their Serie A fixture against Udinese on Sunday.

Astori, a 31-year-old Italy international central defender, had been with the club since 2016 having previously played for Milan, Cagliari and Roma.

He had 14 international caps with Italy and was a member of the squad that played in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

According to Udine Today, the player failed to wake up at the La di Moret hotel in the city on Sunday morning. Some reports suggested he suffered a heart attack.

A statement issued by Fiorentina read: 'Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that their captain Davide Astori has died.

'For this terrible and delicate situation, and above all out of respect for his family, we appeal to the sensitivity of the media.'

The match at the Stadio Friuli has been called off as a mark of respect, with the Italian Players' Association asking for all Serie A games to be postponed.

The early kick-off between Genoa and Cagliari was postponed with the crowd breaking into spontaneous applause when a picture of Astori was shown on the big screen. He spent six seasons as a Cagliari player.

The players were going through their warm-ups when the news broke, leaving some in tears. Fans remained inside the stadium and sat in silence as they digested the shock news.

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